Rampaging Rutland advances to State Tournament games

You just can’t keep
Rutland’s players away
from the plate. (Above)
Matt Kilcoyne goes
airborne to try and avoid
the tag of the North
Leominster catcher in
the opening game of the
sectional tournament in
Orange.
RUTLAND — In the end, the Pittsfield Little League program found out what Jesse Burkett and the rest of Central Mass. already knew. The bashers from Rutland are a force to be reckoned with.

With the smell of its first District 4 championship still fresh, and decidedly sweet, Rutland put together two stellar efforts in last weekend’s State Section 1 Tournament, eliminating Pittsfield West in two games, 7-4, 6-0, at Rutland’s Charles D. Marsh Field.

(Left) Zac Strasser reaches
for home against North
Leominster.`
Steve King photos
Rutland, which improved to an eyecatching 9-0 in the post-season, participates in its first-ever Little League State Tournament game today, traveling to Beverly to battle Section 2 champion Dudley in a 4 p.m. clash. Dudley knocked off Cohasset, 6-1, last Sunday.

Rutland’s Matt Kilcoyne, a student at Central Tree Middle School, was the main man in the tourney-clinching triumph over Pittsfield West, twirling a nohitter and swinging a mean bat. Meanwhile, District 4 championship game hero Dave Belsito pitched in the opening game win and was once again dominant. Kilcoyne was the shortstop in game one, Belsito in game two. Both athletes, versatile and talent-laden, have proven to be standouts where ever they play.

Zach Strasser leaps over the North Leominster catcher while trying to
score. Steve King photo
Despite Kilcoyne’s brilliance in the second game, Rutland actually sealed the deal with two dramatic late-game sequences, one offensively and one defensively.

With Rutland leading 2-0 heading into the fifth inning, Pittsfield managed to put runners on second and third with no one out after a walk, an error and a passed ball. However, Kilcoyne bore down and struck out the next batter. Pittsfield’s Phil Williams then squared to bunt and punched a short pop, which Kilcoyne quickly flagged down. He then wheeled and fired to third baseman Matt Black, who tagged out the now doubled-up runner for an inning-ending double play.

Rutland players celebrate their victory over Pittsfield, which clinched the sectional title. Now it’s on to the states.
Steve King photo
“I knew that I had to catch the ball, and I’m glad that I did,” Kilcoyne said. “Once the kid hit it and I saw where it was going, I knew that I would get it.”

In its next at bat, surging Rutland pocketed four insurance runs to put the game away. Dylan McCallum and Belsito walked. Rutland then loaded the bases when Kilcoyne singled. Jason Belmonte followed with a tworun single. However, Kilcoyne also scored when the return throw from the outfield went wild. Black later singled home Belmonte, concluding the game’s scoring.

Kilcoyne, a hard thrower who likes to mix it up and fool opposing hitters with an occasional curveball, finished with 10 strikeouts, including two in the sixth inning. The no-hitter was his second of the year, his first in the post-season.

“The whole post-season has been great - we have an awesome team,” Kilcoyne said. “This team has gone farther than any other Rutland team, and it’s just great to be a part of it. All the guys contribute. Our defense makes me a better pitcher. It’s also a major reason why I was able to pitch a no hitter. This was a great game. I wasn’t nervous.”

In the first game, Rutland shattered a 2-2 deadlock with a five-run outburst in the third inning.

McCallum and Belsito got things started with back-to-back singles. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Kilcoyne followed with a booming two-run double.

Belmonte’s single plated Kilcoyne, giving the locals a 5-2 advantage. Looking for more, Dan Hooten then drew a walk. He was replaced by pinch runner Chris Catlin. Belmonte and Catlin then scored when Doug McKenna reached on an infield error.

Rutland tallied twice in the first inning. Zac Strasser and McCallum singled to start the game. Belmonte delivered the first Rutland run with a double. Jake Poirier knocked in the second run.

McCallum scored two runs and whacked three singles. The business-like Belsito, on target from start to finish, fanned 12 and surrendered just six hits.

Rutland defeated North Leominster, 112, in an opening-round state sectional game in Orange. The victors banged 14 hits and blew the game open with a seven-run third inning. Rutland sent 12 hitters to the plate during its game-breaking outburst.

Kilcoyne was the winning pitcher. He allowed just two hits and struck out 11. Kilcoyne retired the side in order in the second, third and fifth innings. He helped his cause with two doubles and a single.